Sunday, March 16, 2014

Sunday

(Above Suspicion is pretty good.)

Yesterday, I took the family to a restaurant for dinner. We had barbecue beef cooked over red-hot coals. In Korea, the food is prepared right in front of the customers. This particular establishment offers free soft drinks. So I drank a gallon of pineapple Fanta.I noticed something about my eldest boy James-uh. He's turning into quite the little asshole. He rude. He's moody. Plus he smells bad. I suppose that's normal for a thirteen-year-old boy. However, I'm beginning to understand why the Dragon Lady often feels the urge to kick his butt around the block.Make no mistake. I don't believe in corporal punishment. But let's be perfectly honest. Poor old Smith is a liberal pussy. I'm against the death penalty. I'm against abortion. I'm against war. I'm against violence. Yada, yada, yada. Perhaps I need to be more old school and give the kid a good crack across the mouth. Trust me. John Wayne wouldn't put up with his bullshit. So why should I? Being a parent is often very confusing.We walked back to our Soviet-style concrete tenement. I watched a British police show called Above Suspicion. Limey melodrama usually doesn't float my boat. After all, Smith is a brash Yank. And I'm simply not smart enough to understand the sophisticated jokes. Yet this series is quite compelling. It doesn't have that supercilious Masterpiece Theater aura hovering over it.I paid homage to the Christ God. I said the Lord's Prayer on bended knees. No big surprise. It's not like I'm some filthy atheist. I went to bed at 10 p.m. I didn't dream. I woke up at 6 a.m. and drank several cups of coffee. Then I read the paper while enjoying a bathroom break. Four people were hacked to death with knives in southern China. The government is blaming the murders on Islamic extremists. I'm not surprised. Muslims are crazy. They'll be the death of us all.

I walked five miles to church. I need the exercise. I'm a disgusting fat-body. Our congregation has a band. They played for thirty minutes. After that, the pastor spoke about Jesus. He's an evangelical Christian while I prefer liberation theology. Nevertheless, he's a great guy who sincerely does the Lord's work. I'm very fortunate to know him.Anyway, it's time for the song du jour. Here's All These Things That I Have Done by The Killers. God bless.

When my sons became dicks I suspended privileges. Took away video games, friend visitation rights, or sports equipment. This seemed to work, fwiw. Young men start getting testosterone through their brains and its like temporary insanity. Good luck.

Smith, you and I are opposites in just about every respect (save gender and marital status); but I just love your blog. Your style reminds me of Peter Sellers' character Chance in "Being There." Except despite your simple and blunt manner, I don't think I'm mistaken in thinking that you are quite insightful and intelligent! Please keep up the great work and know that your words have reached, and are being enjoyed by this Yank living way down under here in New Zealand. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts nearly every day--I look forward to it.

I suggest you try a French police/legal show called Spiral (French: Engrenages). My wife finds it more disturbing than Criminal Minds while I find it more sophisticated because you have to read subtitles.